Invalid-bed



Patented July I2, 1898. A. B. BENNETT.

INVALID BED.

(Application filed Dec. 11, 1897.)

2 SheetsSheet l.

(N0 Model.)

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1m. uomus PEYERS co. PHOTO-LUNG. wasumomv v c No. 607;0ll. Patented July 12, I898.

A. B. BENNETT.

INVALID BED.

(Application filed Dec. 1], 1897.)

'2 Shear-Sheet 2.

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FFICEQ ABIJAII B. BENNETT, OF OPELIKA, ALABAMA.

INVALID-BED.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 607,01 1, dated July 12, 1898. Application filed matter 11, 1897;. Serial no. 661,508 (no inoclei.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ABIJAH B/BENNETT, a citizen of the United States, residing at Opelika, in the county of Lee and State of Alabama, have invented'certain new and useful Improvements in Invalid-Beds and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to an improvement in invalid-beds; and it is embodied in the construction and arrangement of parts hereinafter described and claimed.

The objects of the invention are to provide a bed-bottom so fashioned and arranged that the same may be adjusted to permit the invalid or occupant to assume different positions, and, further, to provide details of construction which will permit of the adjustment being made with ease and which will maintain the various members of the bottom securely in their adjusted positions.

A further object of the invention is the provision of suitable means and devices for purposes hereinafter stated.

In the drawings, wherein like letters of reference designate corresponding parts, Figure 1 is a side elevation of the bed with the front rail removed or broken away. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section. Fig. 3 is a cross-section on the line a; 00 of Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a bottom plan view. Fig. 5 is a detail view of the supporting means for the footboard; and Fig. 6 is an end elevation, partly in section and showing in dotted lines the vertically-ad j usted position of the douch-holding bar. Fig. 7 is a cross-section on the line 1 y of Fig. 2.

In the drawings, A designates the frame of the bedstead, consisting of the usual side, foot, and bottom boards. Inasmuch as the bed is designed for use in connection with surgical operations and purposes aswell as for invalid use I form the footboard in two sections, the upper section 13 being hinged to the lower section and adapted to swing outwardly to form a table or support, as shown in Fig. 1. To support the hinge-section, I socure directly below the top rail Z) thereof a pivotal sliding leg 13'. This leg is pivoted on a pin or bolt which passes through an elongated slot in the end of the leg. 'By moving the pin or bolt into the extreme outer end of the slot the leg can be turned at right angles, and thus serve as a support for the table. By forcing the pivot pin or bolt into the extreme inner end of the slot or leg after the latter has been turned out parallel with the table the leg is held in its position against pivotal movement. The bed bottom proper is composed of three independent sections 0, D, and E, and is fashioned to receive a divided mattress of any approved design or pattern. The section 0 is secured to the side sections or pieces of the bed-frame by a cross-rod c, which is formed at its ends with flanges or heads 0.

O designates suspending-hooks fixedly secured to the frame and with which the headed ends of the pivot-rod c engage, the projections or heads on the rods preventing the ends of the rods from escaping from the hooks. The rod 0 is located and secured to the inner edge of the section 0, and by connecting it with the hook, as above described, the section 0 can be readily removed from the bedframe. This is important for many reasons. To support the forward end of the section 0 in a horizontal position, a hook 0 may be employed, which engages with the pin on the section or any other convenient device. When it is desired to tilt the section 0, suitable pivoted rack-bars O are employed, which engage with pins on the frame, the same being operated in the well-known manner.

The central section D of the bottom is permanently connected with the sides of the bedframe by the links cl, havingelongated slots in their rear ends, through which the securing-pins cl pass. This enables the requisite longitudinal movement of the pin in relation to the link. The forward end of the section D is pivotally connected to the upper end of the L-shaped hinges F, which latter extend below the supporting-rod c and are carried forward for a considerable distance and pivotally secured at their ends to the sides of the section 0. When it is desired to lock the sections 0 and D in alinement, suitable sliding bolts f, located on the under side of the inner rail of the section 0, are forced out, their ends projecting below the edges of the hinges F, and thereby preventing the down movement of the hinges. The bolts f may be forced out by any convenient means, and any convenient means may be employed forretracting the same.

When the sections 0 D are held in alinement and wished to be maintained in a horizontal position, or when the section D alone is to be held in horizontal position, the links (Z are engaged by laterally-swinging pivoted hooks G, normally lying in sockets formed in the bed-rails. By swinging the hooks outwardly their ends are brought below the edges of the links. They are located at or near the plane of the rear of the section D.

The section E is hinged to the rear edge of the section D by hinges 6, having removable pintles 6', so that by removing the pintles the section E can be removed from the bed. To secure the sections D E together and to prevent their independent swinging movement, pivotal hooks E are employed, which may be secured to either section, but by preference to the section E, the ends of the hooks taking over pins on the opposite section. I have found this form of connection very satisfactory and secure.

On the sides of the bed-frame are suspended at or near the joint of the sections D E the supporting-hooks H, which are arranged to engage with pins 7L, secured in the sides of the rear portion of the section D or which may be secured in the forward portion of the section E, as desired. To trip these hooks simultaneously, I employ a rod K, pivotally supported on the under side of the rear bar of the section D. This rod is formed with upturned curved ends 7c and an intermediate angle-section arranged at such an angle to the upturned ends that by moving the same the upturned ends are forced into contact with the lower ends of the supporting-hooks, thereby forcing the hooks from engagement with the pin. The hooks II are designed to support the load and relieve the supportinglinks (Z when the section D is being used.

The rear end of the section E is supported by a hook on the bed-frame or in any other convenient manner.

L is what I term a douch'holding pole, located in a recess formed in the footboard or at the inner face of the footboard. This pole is pivoted at one side of the frame, and when lowered extends to the opposite side, and to maintain the same in an elevated position 1 form at its pivotal end an elongated slot l, through which the pivot-pin Z passes. The

pivot-pin is located in close proximity to the side of the bed-frame or corner-post, so that when the pin is at the outer end of the slot Z the post can be turned on the pin, and by forcing the post downward the same is locked in its elevated position.

The details of construction above described can obviously be modified in many respects, and I desire it understood that the invention is not specifically limited to such details.

The various sections may be slatted, if desired, the section D may have removable bottoms of any desired formation, and other adjuncts can be added if found necessary.

Having thus described the invention,what is claimed as new, and desired to be secured by Letters Patent, is-

1. In an invalid-bed, the combination with a bed-frame, of a bottom consisting of three movable sections, of means for pivotally and detachably securing the head-section to the frame, a swinging pivotal connection between the head-section and central section comprising substantially L-shaped members projecting below the pivotal connection between the head-section and the frame, locking-bolts for projecting below the L-shaped members, and links pivoted to the frame and having a sliding pivotal connection with the central section, substantially as described.

2. In an invalid-bed, the combination with the frame, of a bottom consisting of three movable sections, a pivotal connection between the head-section and the frame, means for maintaining the head-section at different inclinations, a pivotal swinging connection between the head-section and central section, means for locking the headsection and central section against independent movement, links connected to the frame and having a pivotal sliding connection with the central section, and laterally-swinging hooks on the frame for engaging the links, substantially as described.

In an invalid-bed, the combination with a frame, of a bottom consisting of three movable sections, a hinged connection between the central and foot sections, pivoted hooks on the frame for supporting the central and foot sections, a tripping-rod pivotally secured below the sections having upturned ends for engaging the hooks, and an extension on the rod for actuating the same, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

ABIJAI'I l3. BENNETT.

Witnesses:

J. T. BRooKs, W. O. BROWNFIELD. 

